Supporter for clothes lines



ay 1937- I M.'L. WEEKS 2,081,471

SUPPORTER FOR CLOTHESLINES Filed 061:. 11, 1935 Patented May 25, 1937 UNTE' s'rATss PATENT FFICE 2 Claims.

My invention relates to a supporter for clothes line and I declare the following to be a full, clear, concise and exact description thereof sufficient to enable anyone skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the specification.

The object of the invention is to provide a '10 device for use more particularly with endless clothes lines that are run at each end over a pulley whereby the wash woman can hang her clothes from one position by moving the line on the pulleys as each article is hung thereon. The

the fact that the lower of the two lines will sag with the weight of the clothes hung thereon and allow the clothes to drag on the ground and thereby soil the same. In some of the larger or thickly populated cities where the roof is used for hanging out and drying the wash, it becomes important to keep the clothes from dragging on the roof which is as objectionable as dragging on the ground.

In order to overcome this tendency of the lower line to sag with relation to the upper or in order to hold the lower line up in parallel relation to the upper is the object of the present invention.

Furthermore, the object will be understood by referring to the drawing which Fig. l is a View of the two way clothes line showing the improved supporter attached.

Fig. 2 is a detail enlarged view of one of the supporters.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing parts in section and others in full.

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the device.

Fig. 5 is a detailed enlarged View showing a perspective of one of the members employed, parts being broken away.

Fig. 6 is a detailed enlarged view showing a perspective of L shaped or latch member employed.

Fig. '7 is a view showing a perspective of a modified form of the device.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the supporter is made preferably of some suitable metal like aluminum, chrome steel or other like material that will not rust. Its general shape or peripheral outline is oval. In cross section it is in the form of a half circle with the flat side innermost. The member is preferably about four inches long and is designated I. The oval is not a continuous member, however, but is cut away objection heretofore to this two way line is due to at 2, to allow for an opening 3 through which the upper line 4 and lower 5 can enter, to attach the supporter to said clothes line.

The upper free end or arm 6 of member I adjacent the location of opening 3 is made rectangular in shape to provide a flat surface for pivotally mounting at 8 an L shaped looking or latch member 9. When in closed position, as shown in Fig. 2, L shaped latch member 9 spans the opening 3 with the end of its horizontal part I0 nearly touching the contiguous inner surface I I of member I, to divide the space within member l into two separate compartments. The upper compartment I5 will be for admission of the upper line 4 and the lower I6 for line 5. Horizontal part I 0 will prevent lines 4 and 5 from coming together.

The means for locking L shaped member 9 temporarily in closed position embodies aligned elongated raised portions 29, 20 formed in L shaped member 9 on opposite sides of aperture 2| therein and cooperating recesses or depressions 22, 22 made in end 6 of member I, whereby the turning of L shaped member 9 to locking position will effect the alignment or registration of raised portions 20, 29 with recesses 22, 22 and cause said raised portions to snap therein and thereby hold L shaped member 9 temporarily in closed position. There is provided a clearance space between the lower surface of horizontal part II] of L shaped member 9 and the upper surface of end 25 of member I, to allow L shaped member 9 to rock into closed position.

In operation the washerwoman will hang her clothes on the lower line 5 and move it as each article is hung thereon. At suitable intervals she will place one of the members I on the line. This can be done by first pushing the L shaped latch 9 to open position, whereupon member I can be manipulated so as to admit the upper line 4 and the lower line 5 within the opening 3, in the relative positions shown in Fig. 2. Latch member 9 is then rocked back to closed position where it is snapped and held by the engagement of raised portions 20, 29 dropping into recesses 22, 22. Pivot 8 which holds L shaped member 9 to end 6 of member I allows a sufiicient yielding relation between the contiguous surfaces of said parts, whereby said raised portions 2!], 20 can snap in and out of recesses 22, 22.

A modification is shown in Fig. '7 with respect to the looking or closing member which is here shown in the form of a U or channel member and numbered 39, to form an upper enclosure 3I for upper line 4 and. a lower enclosure 32 for lower line 5. The U shaped member 30 is pivoted at 33 to the upper free end 34 of member 35, whereby it can swing from open to closed position. It is locked in closed position by the same means of projections 20 and recesses 22 as in the former construction. However, in this instance, the parts are reversed. The projections 20 are on member 3!] and the recesses 22 on the contiguous surface of the end 34 of member 35. The inner flat surface of member I is rounded off on the edges at 40, to reduce friction and allow easy sliding of the lines 4 and 5.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is as follows:

I. In a supporter for clothes line, an oval shaped member having an opening for engaging the upper and lower lines, an L shaped latch member pivotally mounted to said oval shaped member adjacent said opening and dividing the space within the said oval shaped member to prevent latch member pivotally mounted to said oval shaped member adjacent said opening, a horizontal part formed on said latch member, and dividing the space within said oval shaped memher to prevent the upper and lower clothes lines from contacting with one another, raised portions formed on said latch member, depressions formed in said oval shaped member, cooperating with the said raised portions on said latch member to hold said latch member in locked position.

MAY L. WEEKS. 

